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Amsterdam the name inspires thoughts of impressionists
and culture. Rembrandt and Vermeer in Rijksmuseum and the disturbing paintings of
Van Gogh. The historic downtown, the culture and the canals are one reason to visit
this great capital. Of course, for others it’s the spirit of “tolerance” for things
like soft drugs(pot smoking) and legal red light district which make it an interesting
destinatio n. As an observer at least. While Amsterdam is the capital of Netherlands,
the government is based out of the H een able to maintain it’s compactness and old
world charm through a conscious effort rather than a stroke of fortune.
There is another side to Amsterdam as well— its history as a mercantile power of
the 17th century. The “Golden Age” of Amsterdam shows in its buildings, and the
multicultural residents of Amsterdam are to some extent a result of the Dutch colonial
history. Most people are introduced to Amsterdam through the Schiphol airport. If
you are unlucky enough to be stuck there due to a flight delay, you will notice
that the gates don’t have bathrooms and have only eight seats for each planeload
of passengers. While this Spartan introduction is unfortunate as well as uncomfortable
(and not representative of the charm of Amsterdam), it gives an insight into the
thought process of the .
The Schiphol has a shopping area with the casino, and the airport authorities want
you to spend most of your time there. Their hope is that you spend the time shopping
and gambling, instead of taking up space in a comfortable lounge. Airlines love
the arrangement too, given the cut rates offered by Schiphol as opposed to the more
“full service” airports in Europe. This unabashed capitalism goes hand in hand with
the tolerant culture, making Amsterdam an enigma and a place to visit. For it’s
beautiful tulips, as well as the memories of its famed Tulipmania, where the Dutch
were trading tulip buds like .dotcom stocks! The transportation system of Amsterdam
is excellent, with the frequent tram service probably the best choice for traveling
within the city. Renting a car therefore is usually a “very” bad idea, especially
when compared to the ease of trams within this compact city. The less said the better
about the parking situation in the city. A canal boat tour of the city, may also
give you a look at the city from a different angle. Anne Frank house, one of the
most famous landmarks of Amsterdam, encompasses some of the painful history of this
country. While the house is not remarkable, it is a monument to some terrible events.
It’s worth a visit, especially if you have read the book. Rijksmuseum, with its
superb collection of paintings is reminiscent of the Central Station from the outside.
That is, because they have the same architect! The main attractions are Rembrandt,
Frans Hals and Steen, but there are more than 5000 paintings. The Van Gogh museum
is right next door. The Red Light District of Amsterdam is billed as a tourist attraction
in most guide books. It’s actually quite safe to go there and if you keep your wits
around you. You can easily get your tickets of the events in amsterdam from www.ticketnest.com
. The obvious things to remember is, to ignore the drug pushers or answer with a
firm “NAY” and keep the camera in your hotel—taking pictures here is inviting trouble.
An occasional pick pocket aside, you get to see fat women in windows and giggly
tourists trying to soak in the scene.
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